Propulsion Engineer - Plumbing Design and Fabrication

Craig-Technologies; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Craig Technologies in Huntsville, AL is seeking a Propulsion Plumbing Design and Fabrication Engineer to join our team. The role involves designing and routing spacecraft propulsion plumbing, generating CAD models, and supporting clean-room assembly and high-reliability hardware.

You will oversee fabrication, orbital tube welding, and integration for ground tests and flight hardware, ensuring proper insulation and build documentation. ITAR compliance and a strong CAD background are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• Experience with CAD-based mechanical design and detailed fabrication drawings.
• Knowledge of high-pressure fluid systems and orbital welding processes.
• Familiarity with aerospace manufacturing workflows and documentation.

Responsibilities

• Design and route propulsion plumbing, including high-pressure tubing and fittings.
• Generate CAD models, detailed drawings, and build documentation for flight hardware.
• Support clean-room assembly, welding fixtures, and welding procedures.
• Oversee fabrication and integration of propulsion hardware for ground tests and flights.
• Assist with leak testing, thermal insulation considerations, and system integration.
• Contribute to anomaly resolution and documentation of build records.

Skills

Attention to detail

Collaborative work

Clear communication

Hands-on lab work

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Master’s degree (optional)

Tools

CREO

SolidWorks

Job description

Title:Propulsion Engineer - Plumbing Design and Fabrication

Req#: 4099

Propulsion Engineer - Plumbing Design and Fabrication

The vision at Craig Technologies is to make space accessible to everyone by increasing the viability of low-cost access to space. At Craig Technologies, our whole is greater than the sum of our parts. The Craig Technologies team is made up of highly talented individuals, each contributing their own experience, knowledge, skills, and ideas. It is our team that sets us apart from our competition and makes our mission of Bringing Space Down to Earth™ possible. At Craig Technologies we treat each day like it’s Day One. We operate with a sense of urgency; we are customer obsessed, always learning and constantly evolving. Join our team and be a part of something great!

Job Summary

Craig Technologies is seeking a Propulsion Plumbing Design and Fabrication Engineer to join our team in Huntsville, AL, Houston, TX or Merritt Island, FL. This role is responsible for supporting the design, CAD routing, fabrication, and assembly of propulsion system fluid plumbing and associated deep-space ground and flight hardware. The candidate will generate plumbing layouts and detailed manufacturing drawings using industry-standard CAD tools, while also supporting specialized clean-room assembly, welding, and facility readiness activities required for high-reliability spacecraft propulsion builds.

• Design and route spacecraft propulsion system plumbing, including high-pressure tubing, fittings, isolators, brackets, and fluid interfaces.
• Generate and maintain detailed CAD models, manufacturing drawings, and build documentation to support precision fabrication and flight assembly.
• Design and implement welding fixtures and support the development of clean-room orbital welding procedures, process controls, and non-destructive inspection (NDI) practices.
• Provide dedicated engineering oversight of fabrication, orbital tube welding, manifold assembly, and integration activities for flight propulsion hardware.
• Assist with propulsion system assembly, leak checkout, high-pressure proof testing, and mechanical integration for ground test and flight satellite buses.
• Evaluate fluid lines for proper thermal insulation and routing to prevent freezing or vapor-locking in extreme cislunar thermal environments.
• Support anomaly resolution, material compatibility reviews, and rework activities associated with flight plumbing and fabricated hardware.
• Contribute to general propulsion engineering tasks as required, supporting system builds, hot-fire test setups, and launch operations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Skills

• Strong attention to detail, configuration control, and safety protocols when executing flight or high-pressure test hardware.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, cross-disciplinary engineering environment and manage multiple parallel tasks.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability and willingness to work hands-on in a laboratory, clean room, or machine shop environment in support of flight hardware fabrication.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a highly related engineering discipline:
  • Junior Engineer: Bachelor’s degree with <1 year of relevant experience
  • Engineer: Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree with >2 years of relevant experience, or Master’s degree
• Direct experience in CAD-based mechanical design, fluid routing, and detailing (CREO, SolidWorks, or similar), including formal fabrication drawings.
• Working understanding of high-pressure fluid or spacecraft pressure systems, including tubing, fittings, regulators, and basic propulsion or pressurization concepts.
• Experience with orbital tube welding processes, procedures, or weld inspection techniques (hands-on or oversight).
• Familiarity with aerospace manufacturing workflows, quality travelers, material certifications, or formal build records.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

• Experience supporting aerospace fluid systems, hypergolic/green propulsion architectures, or high-pressure cryogenic/gas test hardware is highly desired.
• Exposure to satellite propulsion system integration, clean-room contamination controls, ground testing, or launch operations.
• All candidates selected will be subject to a background investigation and drug screen.
• To conform to U.S. Government International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods standing or walking on hard surfaces.
• Ability to travel <10%.
• Ability to lift up to 30 lbs.

Note: This job description describes the general nature of the duties and requirements of the job. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list or to limit the supervisor's ability to modify work assignments as appropriate.

***All candidates selected will be subject to a security background investigation and must meet all eligibility requirements for access to classified information. ***
Craig Technologies is an EEO Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other non-job-related protected status. All candidates selected will be subject to a security background investigation and must meet all eligibility requirements for access to classified information.